North Korea fires four cruise missiles into the East Sea (Sea of Japan)

 North Korea has test-fired four strategic cruise missiles into the sea, state media said Friday, adding that the drill demonstrated the conflict readiness of Pyongyang's "nuclear combat force."

It was the latest in a series of provocative weapons tests that have sent tensions soaring on the Korean peninsula -- and heightened fears that the North might conduct its first nuclear test since 2017.

The four "Hwasal-2" missiles were fired from the area of Kim Chaek City in North Hamgyong province towards the East Sea, also known as the Sea of Japan, at dawn on Thursday, the Korean Central News Agency stated.

They traveled 2,000 kilometres (1,240 miles) before "precisely" hitting their target, the report said, without specifying what the targets were.